Regulating arrangement for prime movers



July 26; 1932.

I R. DIETZE l ,869,l34

REGULATING ARRANGEMENT FOR PRIME MOVERS Filed Nov. 17. 1931 Inventor: Richard Di etze,

b M f 26444,,

His Attorney.

' Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

31m DIEIZE OI BEBLIN-PANKOW, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR 'IO GENERAL ELECTRIC comm, A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK BIGULA'I'ING FOB PRIME MOVERS Application filed Iovember 17, 1981, Serial No. 575,867, and in Germany November 25, 1980.

The present invention relates to regulating arrangements for prime movers such as elastic fluid engines and more particularly to the kind of regulating arrangements which mclude electromechanical apparatus for conto the following description and the claims appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification.

In the drawing I have shown by way of example a preferred embodiment ofmy invention in combination with a turbo-generator set connected to an electric line. -My arrangement may be applied to any prime mover driving an engine for generating energy, for example, a steam engine driving a pump for conveying a liquid to a tank whereby steam has to be supplied to the prime mover in terms of level conditions in thetank. My arrangement may also be used for controlling a prime mover directly in response to its load output, for instance, for controlling an elastic fluid turbine in response to its mechanical load output or in res onse to conditions of elastic fluid in the ex aust of such turbine.

In the drawing I have shown, as already stated, a turbo-generator set comprising a turbine 1 having an admission valve 2 for regulating the supply of elastic fluid to the turbine and being cou led with an electric generator 3 supplying e ectric energy to a line ,4. 5 is a motor for moving the valve comprising a hydraulic cylinder 6 having a piston 7 connected to the inlet valve of the turhim and a control means 8, in the present instance shown as a pilot valve, to which fluid is supplied under pressure and which comprises valve heads 9 which normally cover conduits 10 and 11 for connecting the pilot valve with the upper and the lower parts of cylinder 6 respectively. The piston 7 and pilot valve heads 9 are pivoted by means of rods 12 and 13 respectively to a floating lever 14, the right-hand end of which is connected with another floating lever 14 having its right hand end pivoted to a speed governor 15, in the present instance shown as an ordinary flyweight governor which may be driven through a worm gear 16 from the shaft 17 of the turbine.

The arrangement so far described may be considered as typical'of any speed governor regulating system for an elasticfluid turbine driving a generator connected to an electric line. Assuming that the left hand end. of lever 14 is maintained in a fixed position, the

operation of the mechanism is as follows:

If the demand for load in line 4 decreases it will cause an increase in speed to the 'efiect that the weights of the speed governor move outwardly and cause a downward movement of the right hand ends of levers 14 and 14 and a corresponding downward movement of the pilot valve heads 9. The latter thereby uncover the ports to conduits 10 and 11 and permit the supply of fluid to the upper part of the hydraulic cylinder and the draining off of fluid'from the lower part thereof, resulting in a downward movement of piston 7 and closing of admission valve 2 of the turbine. If the demand for electric energy increases it will cause a decrease in speed to the eflect that a similar actuation of the apparatus described above takes place, but in the opposite direction and resulting in an opening movement of admission valve 2.

1 According to my invention I provide electromechanical means for controlling the prime mover. The speed governor may be set for pre-emergency control. This means has been shown in the present instance as inis, when the instantaneous condition of the system is equal to the desired condition thereof, and the arm moves in either direction when conditions in line 4 change. Provided on the end of arm 19 is a contact 20 which'is periodically engaged by a contact 21 provided on a lever 22. The contacts form a part of a vibratory type regulator, which also comprises an exciter or electric generator 23 of 27 of the generator through an adjustable resistance or rheostat 28 and line 29. The resistance 28 is short circuited when contacts and 21 engage each other. For this purpose I connect one end of the resistance with contact 21 through lever 22 and line 30 and the sliding contact 31 of the resistance or rheostat is connected to contact 20.

Connected in parallel to the exciter 23 are electromechanical or electromagnetic means indicated as electromagnets 32 and 33, the first of which having a core secured to a rod 34 which in turn is pivoted to the left hand end of the lever 14, and the second comprising a core 35 which is connected to the left hand end of ful'crumed lever 22. The pull exerted on lever l4. by electromagnet 32 is under normal conditions balanced by a restraining means indicated as a spring 36. A

similar restraining spring indicated at 37 may be provided for restraining the pull of electromagnet 33 exerted on the left hand end of lever 22. Y

The operation of the regulator is as followsrLet us assume that contact 20 is in a fixed position for a certain period and that generator 23 is being driven by motor 24 at constant speed. It will then produce a definite voltage at-its terminals. Spring 37 under this condition overcomes the downward pull of electromagnet 33 and thereby causes the contact 21 to move downward until it engages contact 20. This causes short circuiting of resistance 28'which is connected in series with the field of the generator to the eifect that the terminal voltage of the generator rises. This rise in generator voltage causes an increase in pullof electromagnet 33 which thereby overcomes the restraining force of spring 37 and moves the left hand end of fulcrumed lever 22 downward to the eifect that contacts 20 and 21 are separated and the short circuit of resistance 28 is broken and the resistance accordingly again inserted in the field circuit of the generator. The

voltage of the generator or exciter then demoved in response to such conditions.

.age of the exciter will be higher if theduration of the closing period is increased. The periods of closing and opening may be changed by changing the position of one of the contacts, for instance contact 20. In the present case contact 20, which is connected to a device responsive to conditions in line 4 is i If for instance, device 18 is responsive to the load on line 4,'contact 20 will be moved upward when the load decreases. This upward movement causes a decrease in duration of the opening period and a corresponding increase in duration of the closing period to the effect that the average voltage of the exciter or generator increases. This increase of the average exciter voltage causes a corresponding increase of the average pull of magnet 32 to the effect that the left hand end of floating lever 14 is moved somewhat downward against the force of the restraining spring 36 whereby the left hand end of lever 14 and the pilot valve heads 9 are also moved downward and fluid such as oil issupplied to the upper part and drained off from the lower part of the hydraulic cylinder 6. Piston 7 thereby moves downward and causes closing of the admission valve 2. The downward movement of piston 7 also causes through the floating lever l l a similar downward movement of the pilot valve heads 9 whereby the latter resume their original position. The closing of valve'2 causes a decrease in mechanical load output of the turbine and a corresponding decrease in electrical load output of generator 3.

If the demand for electric energy in line 4 increases it will cause through the watt responsive device 18 a downward movement of contact 20 whereby the duration of the opening period is increased and that of the closing period decreased, which effects a decrease of the average excited voltage. The decrease in exciter voltage causes a corresponding decrease of the average pull of magnet 32 to the effect that restraining spring 36 moves the right hand end of floating lever 14; up-

ward and thus causes through the intermediary of floating lever 14 the hydraulic motor 5.to open admission valve 2 of the turbine.

Whereas I have described the regulation 7 the prime mover may be readilyefiected by rheostat, and an 'electromagnet actuated by changing the position of sliding contact 31 the exciter for controlling said motor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my of rheostat 28. The adjusting of the rhecstat has no influence on the relative duration of the closing and opening period but it changes the minimum voltage of the exciter, that 1s, the voltage which is produced during I the opening period. For instance, a. decrease v of the resistance 28 will cause an increase of the-exciter voltage during the opening period, effecting an increase of the average voltage of the exciter, resulting in a closing move-' ment of valve means 2.

Having described m invention, to ether with the apparatus which I now consi er to represent the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In combination with a prime mover, a device resbponsive to the deiriiand for load outut, a vi rater ty e re ator cooperating the load r bs o hsive device and including an exciter, an an electromagnetic means connected to the exciter for regulating the prime mover.

2.. in combination with a prime mover, an

energy is supplied by the engine, a re lating evice responsive to conditions 0 said means, 'a' vibratory type re lator cooperating with the regulating device and including an exciter, and electro-mechanical means operated by-the exciter for regulating the prime mover.

'3. In combination with an elastic fluid engine, a generator driven thereby, a line to which the generator. supplies electric energy,

a device responsive to conditions in the line, a vibratory type regulator cooperatin Wlth the device and including an exciter, an electromagnetic means excited by the exciter for regulating the elastic'fluiden "ne.

' 4. Incombination with'an e astic fluid en- 7 gine having an admission valve means for elastic fiui supplied thereto, 'a' generator driven by the engine, a line to whiclijthe genhand.

driven thereby, a means to which eratorsupplies electric jene'r a device responsive to conditionsin the ne,a'v1 bra t9ry type re lator cooperating with the device and inc udin an jeuciter, an electron!ag'ufet a connected to t e exciterior regulating the a'de mission valve means, and a restramingmeans' for the electromagnet 5. In combination with an ene gine havin elastic flui an admission valve means for supplied thereto, a motor'fo'r moving the valve, a generator driven by the I r engine, a line to which the generatorsupplies electric energy, anwas'tatic device responsive to conditions in the line, a vibratory type t regulator cooperating1 with the device and including an exciter avinga variable field RICHARD -DIETZE. 

